Collapsible tube dispensing apparatus



Feb. 3, 1959 R. L. HECK 2,872,077

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [flex/mp 1. )ZEUK ATTORNEYS Feb. 3, 1959 R L, BECK 2,872,077

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1, 17. .50 T" :7 Z6 Y Z? V 7 A j a;

INVENTOR BY v ATTORNEYS United States Patent (3 2,872,077 'COLLAPSIBLE TUBE DISPENSING APPARATUS Richard L. Heck, Butler, Pa. Application April 25, 1957, Serial No. 655,098 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-100) The present invention relates to collapsible tube dispensing apparatus for forcibly dispensing the contents of a collapsible tube.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a structure for forcibly dispensing the contents from a collapsible tube including means for normally sealing the contents of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described above having a tube sealing device actuated by the article on which the contents of the tube are dispensed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispensing apparatus which is adhesively secured to a wall surface.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube dispensing apparatus of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to use, and which efficiently empties the contents from the collapsible tube.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adaptor block.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the valve.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical cross-sec tion taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation illustrating the valve guides and adaptor block mounting.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a collapsible tube dispensing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

The dispensing apparatus 10 includes a generally rectangular box ill having spaced parallel side walls 12 and 13, a rear wall 14, a top wall 15, all integrally connected and formed of plastic or other suitable material. The edges of the side walls 12 and 13 opposite the back wall 14 are provided with vertically extending inwardly directed short flanges 16 and 17 to strengthen the box 11 and assist in reinforcing the side walls 12 and i3.

Flanges 18 and 19, respectively, extend perpendicularly inwardly from the lower edges of the side walls 12 and 13 and have inner faces 20 and 21, respectively, arranged in spaced parallel relation. The rear wall 14 at the lower edge thereof is provided with a forwardly offset flange 22 integrally formed therewith in aligned relation to the flanges 18 and 19. The faces 20 and 21 of the flanges 18 and 19 and the forward face of the 2,872,077 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 tongue 24 formed on the opposite side and rear faces thereof for engagement in the groove 22a. The block 23 has a vertical threaded bore 25 extending therethrough to receive the threaded dispensing neck 26 of a collapsible tube 27.

The side walls 12 and 13 are each provided with an elongated vertically extending central slot 28 and 29, respectively,

through which extends a shaft 30. The shaft 30 is provided with hand wheels 31 at opposite ends thereof and has the central portion 32 thereof enlarged and provided with an elongated slot 33.

The rear wall 14 of the dispensing apparatus 10 is provided with an adhesive coating 34 by means of which moving a protector sheet (not shown) which covers the adhesive until it is mounted.

A pair of inwardly facing L-shaped guide bars 36 extend from the forward end of the block 23 to the rear end thereof in spaced parallel relation to provide a valve support. A slide valve 3'7 is slidably mounted in the guide bars 36 in contact with the lower face of the block 23 and arranged to underlie the bore 25 when in closed position.

A pair of elongated spaced parallel runners 38 extend forwardly from the slide valve 37 to engage in the guide bars 36 to assist in guiding the slide valve 37 in its movement therealong. An integral operating arm 39 extends downwardly and forwardly from the rear edge of the slide valve 37 terminating in a cup-shaped end member 40, as can be best seen in Figure 6. The arm 39 is provided with notches 41 in the opposite side edges thereof adjacent the slide valve 37.

A pair of pins 42 depend from the flanges 18 and 19, respectively, and have a spring arm 43 supported thereon with one end 44 positioned in a bore 45 in the pin 42, and the other end 46 extending across the arm 39 engaging in the notches 41 to normally bias the slide valve 37 forwardly in the block 23 against stops 47 positioned at the forward end of the guide bars 36.

The flanges 16 and 17 are provided with facing grooves 48 and 49, respectively, and the block 23 is provided with a groove 50 in its upper surface aligned with the grooves 43 and 49. A front cover plate 51 engages between the flanges 18 and 19 and has lateral tongues 52 and 53 engaging in the grooves 48 and 49, respectively, and a tongue 54 on its bottom edge engaging in the groove 50 locking the block 23 into the box 11.

In the use and operation of the invention, a collapsible tube 27 has the normal cap (not shown) removed from the threaded neck 26, and the block 23 is secured to the tube 27 by screwing the neck 26 into the bore 25. The tube 27 is then placed in the box 11 and the tongues 24 on the block 23 are simultaneously slidably engaged in the grooves 22a. The closed end 55 of the collapsible tube 27 is engaged through the slot 33 or". the shaft 30 which is then revolved by means of the hand wheels 31 to collapse the tube 27. In dispensing toothpaste from the tube 27, a tooth brush. 56 is engaged against the cupshaped member 40 pushing the slide valve 37 against the tension of the springs 43 sliding it rearwardly in the guide bars 36 to uncover the lower end of the bore 25 permitting toothpaste from the tube 27 to be dispensed therefrom upon the turning of the hand wheels 31.

Obviously, as soon as the tooth brush 56 has had suflicient toothpaste deposited thereon it can be removed and the slide valve 37 will shut off further dispensing of tooth paste through the bore 25 by being moved into covering position underlying bore 25 by the springs 43. The

the box 11 is secured to a wall surface .35 after first reelongated slots 28 and 29 permit the shaft 30 to move downwardly in the box 11 as the contents of the toothpaste tube 27 are dispensed.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A dispensing apparatus for collapsible tubes comprising an elongated upright open front rectangular box having a back wall, spaced parallel side walls, said side walls having vertical elongated slots arranged in aligned rela tion therein intermediate the front and rear edges of said side walls, inwardly extending confronting flanges formed integrally on the lower ends of said side walls, a forwardly extending flange integrally formed on the lower end of said back wall and joined to said confronting flanges at its opposite ends, said flanges each having a. horizontal groove formed in the adjacent faces thereof, a bottom wall, tongues formed on the rear edge and the side edges of said bottom wall engaging in said grooves detachably securing said bottom wall to said side walls and said back wall, said bottom wall having a vertically extending threaded bore projecting therethrough, a slide valve selectively closing the lower end of said threaded bore, means supporting said slide valve for sliding move ment on the underside of said bottom wall, means normally biasing said slide valve into closed position, means depending from said slide valve for engagement to move said slide valve to a bore uncovering position, means mounted in said slots in said side walls for collapsing said collapsible tube, said side walls having confronting vertical grooves formed in the forward edges thereof, a front wall slidable in said last named grooves and means on the lower end of said front wall for engaging and releasably securing said hotom wall in said box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,476 Morris et al. Nov. 21, 1950 20 2,542,678 Keefer Feb. 20, 1951 2,718,984 Messer Sept. 27, 1955 2,742,189 Morrison Apr. 17, 1956 

